The Dovells Biography

Originally called the Brooktones, this Philadelphia-based R&B vocal group comprised Len Barry (Leonard Borisoff, 6 December 1942, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Jerry Summers (b. Jerry Gross), Mike Dennis (b. Michael Freda) and Danny Brooks (b. Jim Meeley). Signed to Parkway Records, the group had a US number 2 hit in 1961 with Bristol Stomp, succeeded the following year by the Top 40 hits Do The Continental, Bristol Twistin Annie and Hully Gully Baby, all of which became dance favourites of the era. Len Barry was responsible for introducing their contemporaneous friends, the Orlons, to Cameo Records, and after the departure of Brooks in 1962, the Dovells achieved another major US hit with a cover of the Phil Upchurch Combo hit You Cant Sit Down. Barry departed from the group later that year and they continued as a trio. The Dovells recorded for MGM Records in the late 60s under the name of the Magistrates, but met with little success.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.